JPH0624279A - Cooling device for electric automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a cooling device for an electric automobile excellent in mountability on a vehicle while improving cooling efficiency. CONSTITUTION:A heat radiating plate 2a of electric parts 2 is closely mounted on an external wall surface of a flat tube 3, in which cooling fluid flows, through grease of high heat conduction. A pair of tanks 4, 5 are connected to both end parts of the tube 3, and inlet and outlet pipes 6, 7 are connected to the one tank 4, to also provide a partitioning plate 8 for partitioning the inside of the one tank 4 in the lengthwise direction, between the inlet and outlet pipes 6, 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling device for electric parts mounted on an electric vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electric vehicle, air cooling is generally used as a cooling method for electric parts including heat-generating parts such as power transistors. However, this air cooling is
It is not suitable for cooling an electric component that needs to be cooled promptly, such as a semiconductor element unit, which has an important function, at the time of starting in summer when the outside temperature is high.

Therefore, a liquid cooling type cooling device as shown in FIG. 10 can be considered. This cooling device is composed of a metal thick plate 100 having excellent thermal conductivity such as copper, and a pipe 101 piped in the metal thick plate 100. By circulating a cooling liquid in the pipe 101, the metal thickness is increased. It cools the electrical components 102 mounted in contact with the outer surface of the plate 100.

[0004]

However, in the above cooling device, the electric component 10 is connected to the pipe 101 through which the cooling liquid flows.
The pipe 10 is not cooled by directly contacting the two.
1 and the electric component 102, the metal thick plate 100 is interposed, and the heat transfer area of the pipe 101 itself is small, so that the contact heat resistance is large and the cooling efficiency is poor.

Further, as the number of electric parts 102 to be cooled increases, as shown in FIG. 11, the metal plate 100 and the bracket 103 for mounting increase in size, resulting in increase in weight. It is not practical to apply to automobiles where durability strength is especially important.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a cooling device for an electric vehicle which improves cooling efficiency and is excellent in mountability on a vehicle.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a cooling device for electric parts mounted on an electric vehicle, which is made of a material excellent in heat conductivity, An extruded product having a flat outer wall surface with which the heat radiation part of the electric component comes into contact is provided with a tube provided so that a cooling liquid flows inside, and a high thermal conductivity is provided between the outer wall surface of the tube and the heat radiation part. The technical means is to interpose the heat transfer material.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cooling device for an electric component mounted on an electric vehicle, the electric component being provided on one side surface of a substrate, and A tube having an opening portion smaller than the substrate, and the other side surface of the substrate is arranged in the opening portion to form a flow path through which a cooling liquid flows, and the other side surface of the substrate and the opening portion of the tube are fastened together. A cooling device for an electric vehicle, which includes a fastening member and a seal member for closely contacting the other side surface of the substrate and the opening of the tube, is adopted.

[0009]

In the cooling apparatus for an electric vehicle according to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the heat generated by the electric component flows from the heat radiating portion of the electric component through the heat transfer material and the outer wall of the tube into the tube. When the heat is transferred to the cooling liquid, the cooling liquid is heated and the electric parts are cooled.

In this electric vehicle cooling device, between the outer wall surface of the tube through which the cooling liquid flows and the heat radiating portion of the electric component,
By interposing the heat transfer material having a high thermal conductivity, it is possible to suppress the influence on the heat transfer performance due to the fluctuation of the clearance between the outer wall surface of the tube and the heat radiating portion due to the external force such as the vibration and the twist of the automobile.

Further, since the tube through which the cooling liquid flows has a flat outer wall surface with which the heat radiating portion of the electric component comes into contact,
The heat transfer area of the tube to the heat dissipation part of the electric component is large, and high heat transfer efficiency can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the cooling apparatus for an electric vehicle of the present invention, an opening smaller than the heat radiation portion of the electric component is opened in the tube, and the heat radiation portion of the electric component is arranged in the opening. By forming the flow path through which the cooling liquid flows, the heat radiating portion of the electric component directly exchanges heat with the cooling liquid.

Since the seal member is interposed between the other side surface of the substrate and the opening of the tube and the other side surface and the opening are fastened by the fastening member, the cooling liquid does not leak from the flow path.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the cooling apparatus for an electric vehicle of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooling device for an electric vehicle. A cooling device 1 for an electric vehicle (hereinafter abbreviated as a cooling device) of the present embodiment cools an electric component 2 mounted on an electric vehicle, and includes two tubes 3 through which a cooling liquid flows and both ends of each tube 3. And a pair of tanks 4 and 5 connected to the section.

The tube 3 is an extruded product of aluminum having a flat cross section, and the inside is divided into a plurality of parts in the width direction by inner columns 3a extending in the length direction of the tube 3.
Each constitutes a passage 3b through which the cooling liquid flows. The two tubes 3 are arranged side by side in the width direction between the pair of tanks 4 and 5.

The tanks 4 and 5 are made of aluminum having a rectangular cross section, the ends of the tubes 3 are connected by brazing, and are connected to the two tubes 3, respectively. An inlet pipe 6 that forms an inlet for the cooling liquid and an outlet pipe 7 that forms an outlet for the cooling liquid are connected to one of the tanks 4, and one of the two is provided between the inlet pipe 6 and the outlet pipe 7. A partition plate 8 is provided to partition the inside of the tank 4 into an inlet chamber 4a and an outlet chamber 4b in the longitudinal direction. Therefore,
The two tubes 3 form a forward side and a return side of the coolant between the pair of tanks 4 and 5, and the forward side tube 3 is communicated with the inlet chamber 4a of the one tank 4 and the return side tube. Three
Is communicated with the outlet chamber 4b of the one tank 4.

As the cooling liquid, antifreeze liquid, silicone oil, etc. are suitable. As shown in FIG. 2 (a cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of the electrical component 2), the electrical component 2 that requires cooling by the cooling device 1 (for example, a component including an inverter that generates a large amount of heat) is The heat radiating plate 2a (heat radiating portion of the present invention) is fixed to the tube 3 together with the unit cover 2b by the bolt 9 so as to be in close contact with the flat outer wall surface 3c of the tube 3.

Further, in this embodiment, the high heat conductive grease 10 (heat transfer material of the present invention) having excellent heat conductivity is interposed between the heat dissipation plate 2a of the electric component 2 and the outer wall surface 3c of the tube 3. Therefore, an air layer is prevented from intervening between the heat dissipation plate 2a and the outer wall surface 3c of the tube 3.

The cooling device 1 is fixed to the vehicle body by brackets 11 attached to the tanks 4 and 5. Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

The cooling liquid flowing from the inlet pipe 6 into the inlet chamber 4a of the one tank 4 is distributed from the inlet chamber 4a to the respective passages 3b of the outward tube 3, and the respective passages 3b are directed toward the other tank 5. Flowing. The cooling liquid flowing into the other tank 5 is distributed to each passage 3b of the return-side tube 3 and flows through each passage 3b toward one tank 4,
It flows out from the outlet chamber 4b of the one tank 4 through the outlet pipe 7.

Here, the electric component 2 which is in close contact with the outer wall surface 3c of each tube 3 is rapidly cooled by radiating heat to the cooling liquid flowing in each tube 3. In addition, the electric component 2
By utilizing the cooling liquid heated by the heat radiation from the vehicle as a heat source for heating the interior of the vehicle, effective exhaust heat recovery from the electric component 2 can be performed.

In this embodiment, the high thermal conductive grease 10 is interposed between the outer wall surface 3c of the tube 3 and the heat radiating plate 2a of the electric component 2 so that the heat transfer between the tube 3 and the electric component 2 is improved. Can be raised.

Further, since the high heat conductive grease 10 can prevent the air layer between the outer wall surface 3c of the tube 3 and the heat radiating plate 2a from intervening, which greatly reduces the heat transfer performance, vibration and twist of the automobile can be prevented. It is possible to suppress the influence on the heat transfer performance due to the variation in the clearance between the tube outer wall surface 3c and the heat radiating plate 2a due to such external force.

In this cooling device 1, the heat dissipation plate 2a of the electric component 2 is directly adhered to the outer wall surface 3c of the tube 3 through which the cooling liquid flows, so that the heat dissipation plate is different from the cooling device described in the prior art. The heat transfer area of the tube 3 with respect to 2a can be increased.

As a result, the heat transfer performance between the electric component 2 and the tube 3 is improved, and the cooling efficiency can be improved. Further, since the cooling device 1 of the present embodiment does not need to use a thick plate such as copper and is lightweight, even if the number of electric components 2 requiring cooling increases accordingly, the mounting bracket There is no need to upsize 11. Therefore, it is possible to realize weight reduction and compactness, durability strength,
Particularly excellent in vibration resistance.

By fixing each electric component 2 with a bolt 9 for each unit, it is easy to maintain and can be easily replaced. In this embodiment, the other tank 5
Then, the coolant flows from the outward tube 3 to the return tube 3
Although it has a structure to turn, the partition plate 8 in one tank 4
Omitting and connecting the inlet pipe 6 to one tank 4,
By connecting the outlet pipe 7 to the other tank 5,
The two tubes 3 may have a structure in which the cooling liquid flows from one tank 4 to the other tank 5 at the same time.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be shown. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cooling device 1. Cooling device 1 of this embodiment
Has a structure in which two tubes 3 are stacked in the height direction between a pair of tanks 4 and 5, and the mounting area can be reduced as compared with the cooling device 1 of the first embodiment. Is.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be shown. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cooling device 1. Cooling device 1 of this embodiment
Is a tube 3 bent in a U shape as shown in FIG.
Is used to combine the tanks 4 and 5 into one. As a result, it is possible to further reduce the size and weight.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be shown. 5 is a sectional view of the electric component 2 and the tube 3, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the electric component 2 and the tube 3.

In the cooling device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer wall surface 3c of the tube 3 is formed as a concave surface, and the heat dissipation plate 2a of the electric component 2 is formed as an outer wall surface 3c forming the concave surface of the tube 3. By forming the convex surface to be fitted, the contact area between the tube 3 and the heat radiating plate 2a is enlarged to improve the heat transfer performance.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be shown. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the tube 3. In this cooling device 1, corrugated inner fins 12 are inserted in a flat tube 3 to form a plurality of passages 3 b in the tube 3.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be shown. 8 is a perspective view of the cooling device 1, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. In this cooling device 1, both end surfaces of the tube 3 are attached to the end plate
3 and 14, both ends of the tube 3 are provided with communication holes 15 and 16 inside the end plates 13 and 14 for communicating the passages 3b of the tube 3 in the width direction of the tube 3, and one communication hole 15 is provided. The inlet pipe 6 is connected to the tank 4 and the outlet pipe 7 is connected to the other communication hole 16 so that the tanks 4, 5
Is unnecessary.

As described above, in the cooling device 1 of the present invention, the shape, position, number, length, etc. of the tubes 3 can be arbitrarily set depending on the number of electric components 2 requiring cooling or the mounting space. As a result, the degree of freedom in mounting on a vehicle is greatly increased.

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be shown. 12
Is a perspective view of the cooling device 1, FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 12, and FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

This cooling device 1 includes a radiator plate 2 of an electric component 2.
It has a flat tube 20 having an opening 20b smaller than the area of a. This tube 20 has an opening 20
By disposing the heat radiating plate 2a in b, a flow path through which the cooling liquid flows is formed inside. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 13, the outer peripheral end surface 2b of the heat dissipation plate 2a and the joint surface 20a of the tube 20.
Join with. A packing 21 made of an elastic member is arranged in the gap between the outer peripheral end surface 2b and the joint surface 20a so that the cooling liquid does not leak from the gap. The tube 20 is processed with a groove 20f into which the packing 21 is fitted. The outer peripheral end surface 2b of the heat sink 2a is provided with screw holes 2c at four corners through which the screws 9 can pass. When the heat sink 2a and the tube 20 are joined, the through hole 2 through which the screw penetrates is provided at the position of the tube 20 corresponding to the screw hole 2c.
0e is provided. Further, in order to prevent the cooling liquid from leaking from the screw hole 2c, screwed leak-preventing members 20c are arranged inside both ends of the flat tube 20. With this configuration, the tube 1 is fixed by the bolt 9 so that the heat radiating plate 2a comes into close contact with the tube 1.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the tube 20 has a heat sink 2a for narrowing the cross-sectional area of the flow passage to increase the flow rate of the cooling liquid and to increase the efficiency of heat exchange with the heat sink 2a. The bottom surface 20d at a position opposed to is dented toward the inner diameter side in parallel with the heat dissipation plate 2a. Further, this molding process can improve the cooling performance and the strength of the heat exchanger itself at the same time. In addition, by providing the leakage prevention member 20c by the length of the heat radiating plate 2a in the direction of the inflow of the cooling liquid,
It is also possible to reduce the cross-sectional area of the flow channel. By configuring as described above, the electric component 2 is attached to the tube through which the cooling liquid flows.
The heat radiating plate 2a of the
Since the cooling liquid and the heat radiating plate 2a can directly exchange heat via
The contact thermal resistance in the conventional example can be significantly reduced,
Cooling efficiency is greatly improved.

Since the electric component 2 is attached and fixed to the tube 20 with the bolt 9, the electric component 20 can be easily removed. At the time of repair / repair, the coolant can be drained from the inside of the flow path, and then the bolt 9 can be removed to easily perform repair / repair.

Furthermore, since the flow path of the cooling liquid is flat, the thickness of the heat exchanger is thin, and a lightweight and compact structure can be realized. Therefore, there is a high degree of freedom in mounting on a vehicle.

Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be shown. Figure 15
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the cooling device 1. The cooling device 1 uses a liquid packing 22 at the joint between the flat tube 20 and the heat radiating plate 2a of the electric component 2. According to this structure, as in the seventh embodiment, the groove 20 into which the packing 21 is inserted is inserted.
There is no need to process f.

Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be shown. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the cooling device 1. In this cooling device 1, the fins 2d are formed by forming the surface of the heat dissipation plate 2a of the electric component 2 on the side to be joined with the tube 20 in an uneven shape. The fins 2d increase the heat transfer area between the cooling liquid and the heat radiating plate 2a, so that the heat radiating performance of the heat radiating plate 2a can be improved.

Next, a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be shown. Figure 1
7 is a sectional view of the cooling device 1. This cooling device 1 is an example in which a tube 23 in which the tube 20 and the leak preventing member 20c in the seventh embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 are integrally molded is used. Further, the corrugated fins 24 that are in close contact with the heat dissipation plate 2a are provided in the flow path formed by the tube 23 and the heat dissipation plate 2a.
As a result, the heat transfer performance can be improved in the same manner as in the above embodiment. Further, since the fins 24 are interposed in the flow path, the cross-sectional area of the flow path can be reduced by the volume of the fins 24.

Next, an eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be shown. Figure 1
8 is a sectional view of the cooling device 1. In this cooling device 1, a plurality of convex portions 25, which are formed of the heat radiating plate 2a and the tube 23 and project toward the inside of the flow path, are formed on the heat radiating plate 2a. The convex portion 25 increases the heat transfer area of the heat radiating plate 2a as well as the cross-sectional area of the flow path as in the above embodiment,
As shown in the above seventh to ninth embodiments, the bottom surface 20
It is not necessary to form d by denting it in the inner circumferential direction of the flow path.

Next, a twelfth embodiment of the present invention will be shown. Figure 1
9 is a cross-sectional view of the cooling device 1. In this cooling device 1, in order to reduce the cross-sectional area of the flow path, a rectifying plate 26 having a substantially same area as the opening of the heat radiating plate 2a is arranged at a position facing the heat radiating plate 2a in the tube 23. By arranging the current plate 26 in the flow path in this way, it is not necessary to form the bottom surface 20d by denting in the inner circumferential direction of the flow path, as shown in the seventh to ninth embodiments.

In the above embodiment, the heat dissipation plate 2a and the tubes 20 and 23 are connected by the bolts 9 to form the flow path. However, as shown in FIG. The heat radiation plate 2a and the tubes 20 and 23 may be sandwiched by the member 27 and caulked.

Further, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 21, the tube 28 is formed in the same manner as the tube 23 of the above-mentioned embodiment, and the heat radiating plate 2a is provided with the side plate 29 which is in close contact with the side surface 28a of the tube 28. To do. The side plate 29 is formed with a through hole 29a through which the bolt 9 penetrates, and a notch 29b corresponding to the position of the inflow pipe 30 into which the cooling liquid flows in the tube 28. As described above, the heat dissipation plate 2a may not be a flat plate but may cover the side surface of the tube 28, and the side surface may connect the heat dissipation plate 2a and the tube 28 with the bolt 9.

Further, the shapes in the respective embodiments may be combined. According to the above structure, even if the number of heat-generating components increases, the heat exchanger itself is formed of a hollow tube, so that the weight does not increase sharply as in the conventional example and the durability deteriorates. It doesn't lead to.

[0048]

According to the cooling device of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the heat radiation portion of the electric component is directly adhered to the tube through which the cooling liquid flows, and high heat conduction is achieved between the outer wall surface of the tube and the heat radiation portion of the electric component. The heat transfer performance can be improved by interposing the heat transfer material of the rate, and as a result, the cooling efficiency can be improved.

Further, in the cooling device of the present invention as defined in claim 2, an opening smaller than the heat radiation portion of the electric component is opened in the tube, and the heat radiation portion of the electric component is arranged in this opening so that the cooling liquid flows. By forming the passage, the heat radiating portion of the electric component directly exchanges heat with the cooling liquid. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the electric component can be improved.

Further, since the shape and the number of tubes can be arbitrarily set, the tube can be easily mounted on a vehicle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooling device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounted state of the electric component according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cooling device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cooling device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an electric component and a tube according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an electric component and a tube according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a tube according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cooling device according to a sixth embodiment.

9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cooling device showing a conventional technique.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a cooling device showing another example of the prior art.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a cooling device according to a seventh embodiment.

13 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a cooling device according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a cooling device according to a ninth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a cooling device according to a tenth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a cooling device according to an eleventh embodiment.

FIG. 19A is a sectional view of a cooling device according to a twelfth embodiment. (B) is a DD sectional view of (A).

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a cooling device according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view of essential parts of a cooling device according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cooling device 2 Electric component 2a Heat sink (heat sink) 3 Tube 3c Outer wall surface 10 High thermal conductive grease (heat transfer material) 20 Tube 21 Packing

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cooling device for an electric component mounted on an electric vehicle, the inside of which is cooled by an extruded product made of a material having excellent thermal conductivity and having a flat outer wall surface with which a heat radiation portion of the electric component comes into contact. It is equipped with a tube that allows the liquid to flow.
A cooling device for an electric vehicle, wherein a heat transfer material having high thermal conductivity is interposed between the outer wall surface of the tube and the heat radiating portion. 2. A cooling device for an electric component mounted on an electric vehicle, comprising: an electric component provided on one side surface of a substrate; and an opening portion smaller than the substrate, wherein the opening portion is provided with the other components. A tube that forms a flow path through which a cooling liquid flows by arranging the side surface, a fastening member that fastens the other side surface of the substrate and the opening portion of the tube, and the other side surface of the substrate and the opening portion of the tube A cooling device for an electric vehicle, comprising: